Tips for the Oversea Traveler

Over the last couple of months of my travel planning and research I have discovered some very handy sites that I thought I would share.

Canadianaffair.com This an excellent site for flights to the UK and Ireland from Canada

Skyscanner.net It's basically the Flight Center of budget airlines in Europe. As romantic as the train is, in Europe flying tends to be the cheapest way around!

Volunteercard.com Volunteering overseas? (This includes WWOOFing.) Go here for amazing, dirt cheap Travel insurance.

Women-on-the-road.com This is a great site for any woman making solo travel plans. It's full of advise on how to stay safe, what to pack and loads of inspiration and encouragement!

Tips for Backpack shopping

I was completely at a loss when I first started looking into backpacks for my trip. There are so many to choose! First off, don't cheap out. I'm not saying get the most expensive bag on the market, but a well made pack means a comfortable pack. I bought a Gregory Jade 50 on sale (ah the perks of buying off season!). It's specifically made for women and comes in sizes XS-L. And when they say it wears like a dream, they're not lying!

While you're travelling, your pack is your life. Make sure you get one that is right for your body and that it is fitted properly. Your back and body will thank you. Also, don't go too big. I recommend making sure it is small enough to take as a carry on. As I said, your pack is your life and you're going to want to with as much as possible. Also most budget airlines charge you for checked baggage, so you'll be saving yourself some money there as well.

As for packing.... I'll let you know how that goes!

The Introduction: Who is Eartha Lustig

For those of you who just happened to stumble upon my blog... Hi! My name is Eartha. I am a 25 year old woman from Vancouver Island. I have moved 35 times in the past 8 years. I'm always in search of something different, something new. It's not about the grass being greener, it's about it being a different shade.

For the past 3 years I have been living in Toronto. This being the longest I have lived anywhere ( Aside from my home town, Comox, BC, which I left for the big city lights of Vancouver, when I was 17). I have recently grown tired of the city and am fed up with my attempts of fighting my nomadic heart and wandering spirit. So here comes this plan for Adventure...

Starting in February/March I plan to WWOOF my way around Europe, starting in Romania and working my way over to Ireland and the UK. With this desire for travel and discovery also comes a desire to get back in touch with nature and back in touch with myself. Living in the city can be so distracting and it can sometimes be easy get off track and lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.

So what is WWOOFing? WWOOF stands for world wide opportunities on organic farms. It allows people like you and I to travel all over a country and even all over the world for very little money. In exchange for a few hours of work a day (typically 5 days a week), you receive food (amazing, fresh organic food!)to fill up your belly and a roof to put over your head. But it's not just about traveling on a budget. It's about promoting a movement (organic and sustainable living). It's about community. It's about hard (but rewarding) work. It's about the people of the land. It's about culture. It's a way to grow, a way to learn, a way to express and excel. And a way to remember that life can be simple.


Along the way I plan to document as much of my trip as possible via blog entries, photos, and video.

Stay tuned!